Memories of a century of heroism and sacrifice fluttered throughout Meetinghouse Hill today as a large crowd of retired and active duty firefighters and their families gathered to usher in the future with a state-of-the-art Engine 17-Ladder 7 fire station while also preserving the memory of those who came before and those who lost their lives in service.

The Fire Department started construction on the new station at the corner of Winter and East Streets 19 months ago, and stuck to an aggressive schedule to get the new station up and working on time – replacing the nearly 100-year-old station just two doors up on Parish Street.

Yet with all the fanfare, a somber note was sounded in remembering late School Crossing Guard Marie Conley, a Dorchester woman who stood guard for the children of the Mather School for over a decade, only to be tragically run down on Oct. 21, 2008, while shielding a student from an oncoming vehicle. She died of her injuries on Oct. 29, 2008, and later in 2011 was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor Citizen Service Above Self Award.
Her four children – Jim, Jennifer, Michael, and Chris - and members of the Finn family were on hand to remember the Dorchester mother who worked two jobs – one as a crossing guard and one cleaning houses – to support her family and “spoil” both them and the Mather children.

“My mother sacrificed her time, her money, her love, and ultimately, her life,” said Michael Conley. “My wife Jackie and my son Jamison never got to meet her. I’ve shared pictures and memories over the years, but now I look forward to visiting this memorial with them and showing them my mother was a hero.”

Her son, Chris Conley, was serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq when she was killed, and had to be brought in on a short furlough to say good-bye before returning to war. He now serves as a firefighter at Meetinghouse Hill steps away from his mother’s new memorial and a short walk from the corner where she held court and was known as “Miss Marie, the Mather School Crossing Guard.”

“He requested to work on Meetinghouse Hill, the same location my mother worked,” added Michael. “For almost 12 years now Chris has been serving this community, much like my mother did.”

Mayor Michelle Wu said it was very emotional to think about what Conley did to save a child trying to cross the street.

“It was from a place of immense love that she gave her life to protect a student from an oncoming car,” said the mayor. “Without a second thought Marie put herself in harm’s way to keep a child safe…I get emotional thinking about what it means to be a mom, to have your own kids, and love everyone else’s kids just as much as your own in order to make that sacrifice.”

Conley’s memorial stands in a landscaped garden next to the new firehouse with her picture and a synopsis of what happened. Students from the Mather School were in attendance and made a special presentation to the Conley and Finn families in memory of Marie (Finn) Conley.

Inside the $25 million firehouse, the facility includes a new design that will help prevent occupational cancer from being so prevalent, keeping fire equipment exposed to carcinogens segregated from living areas, said Commissioner Paul Burke.

“We know that firefighters have occupational cancer at higher rates than the general public, and this facility has separate hot, warm and cold areas,” Burke said, noting the separate areas for decontaminating fire gear. “These features will greatly reduce the occurrences of occupational cancer in our firefighters.”

He also said the firehouse belongs to the community of Meetinghouse Hill, and said anytime a firehouse is in a community, it means a safer community.

“Any time you see these trucks here, you are welcome to come here if you need assistance or want to say hello,” Burke said.

“The firefighters that work here are only guests; this building belongs to the Meetinghouse Hill community,” he stated.

Capt. Guy Cammarata, who leads the new firehouse, said: “I always thought in coming here to open this new firehouse, how I would replace 100 years of history. Then I thought it’s not the roof and four walls, it’s that the foundation of this building is going to be the members here past and present.”

Others in attendance included Councillor John FitzGerald, State Rep. Chris Worrell, At-large Councillors Erin Murphy and Henry Santana – as well as former Fire Commissioners Jack Dempsey and Joe Finn. Numerous retired firefighters were also in attendance, as well as scores of young adults in the Fire Cadet program.

Features of the firehouse include energy-efficient boilers and two apparatus bays, one facing Winter Street and one chief’s bay on Parish Street. Other features include second-floor spaces such as an open-concept kitchen and dayroom, fitness area, lockers, and sleeping and office spaces. The design uses brick and stone to complement the surrounding area, and there is also a community room attached to the building.

The land was sold to the city by First Parish Church years ago. The Church used it as a parking lot for decades, and it was the Dorchester Lyceum Hall before that building was demolished in the 1950s.

Engine 17/Ladder 7 responds to more than 2,500 incidents per year in its catchment area of Dorchester, Roxbury, and parts of South Boston. 

This new facility will incorporate a public art project, which is anticipated to be completed and installed by 2026. Meetinghouse Hill is only the second firehouse built in Boston in the last 40 years, the other being in Egleston Square in 2021.

The city hasn’t determined yet what it will do with the former firehouse on Parish Street, which opened in 1928.